Morning journal and courier., 1887-05-11
Rury5n. His Five Sons

A Lycoming county farmer, blessed by the
 possession of broad acres and fat cattle, and
 fatter cash account, had given his five sons
 more precious than all else beside-that
 the Union might be preserved. His name
 was Rankin. His wife was dead and his
 boys were his only solace, but when the war against his country was declared he felt as
 did Volumnia, the mother of Corio1anus, when she said: ''Had a dozen sons, each in my love alike, I had rather have eleven die nobiy for their country than one voluptu- ously surfeit out of action" So the Rankin boys went to confront grin-visaged war. The life blood of two of them made more fertile the rank growth of the peninsula and
 their bodies lay unclaimed amid the thou sands who had gone down in the shock of battle. The bowed but not broken father came to the Governors office in Harrisburg with his tale of woe. Andrew Curtin never turned deaf ear to such as he He said i: "You are too old 6 man to go after your sons bodies. I will send messenger for them, and you can rest assured that you will be enabled to give them burial"
 After the second battle of Manassas the aged father again entered the executive chamber, and without saying word seated himself. The Governor recognized him at once and thought, ''Can it be that this old | man has been afflicted agains" He bade him approach. The visitors voice was broken, but his tears did not fall as he said: "Gov- ernor, another of them has gone." For a moment MT. Curtin could not speak. He si- lently wrung the horny hand of the despoiled father. When he found voice he said: "You must not go. I will send for him. You shall see him again."
 When news of the battle of Gettysburg bod 1N,1yr eled rapidly across the country and viewed | that memorable conflict. After it's -conelu- ! sion he returned to Harrisburg and was | seated late at night in his room when again Rankin entered without a word and silent l ly seated himself upon chair. "My God, J ! thought MT. Curtin, Git cannot be that the I blow has fallen upon this old man again. 1 He could not bring himself to ask the question, and for fully fifteen minutes the l two men sat in their room, their heads upon their hands, and neither uttered a word. At last the old man said as he steadied his voice: "Governor, the other 1 two are gone."
 l 'The other two? This is terrible" ! "Yes, Governor, the other two. They ! have taken them all.''
 He wished pass to enter the lines that ! he might take home his silent sons. 'You are too old," said the anguished Governor
 'I will send for them and they shall be l taken nome"
 l After Governor Curtin had returned tc this country at the close of his five years residence at the court of Russia he was il Philadelphia, when it was intimated to hin that MT. Rankin, who was still alive, would
 be highly delighted if his benefactor woult pay him a visit when the ex-minister was o1 his way to his home in Center county. MT ! Curtin said that he would comply with tn ! wish, and when he reached the railroad sta l tion nearest to the Lyc coming county farmer l home he found the old man waiting for hin l with carriage. That evening the people of tn l surrounding country, at MT. Rankin's bidding ] focked to do honor to the ex- Governor. Tht
 next morning after partaking of breakfas
 such as only Pennsylvania farmhouse cal produce, the aged agriculturist invited MT ! Curtin to join him in walk. He led tn
 way to wooded knoll near the house, ant
 atop which was beautifully sodded inclo sure surrounded by an iron railing. Within
 it were five mounds and five headstones
 The old man pointed toward them and sim l ply sold: ''Governor, there they lie." Botl 1 men bowed their heads and neither uttered l a word. In few moments Rankin turned
 away with cheery remark about the sur 1 rounding country, and from that moment during the two days festivities that succeed f ed MT. Curtin's arrival the desolate father
 never again referred to his sleeping sons.